The Killians write: >He's not that big. Two thousand breeding ferrets in spring 1997 (his own number--I certainly saw hundreds) dwarfs most breeders talked about here except the big commercial farms. This is a one-man operation. >Where? I have NEVER heard of a case. I have. >These shelters are so over whelmed by the numbers of their two primary >charges that all others get really unfortunate treatment. Dead is dead, regardless of what is happening to other animals. >Its still a distribution problem. Your own arguments point out the >regional nature of the problem. Your particular region has problems >unique to that area. I know of no other region with quite the same >problem. A problem is a problem whether it is regional or national. Do you have any suggestions on how to deal with distribution issues? Through this list, we have seen situations where new homes/shelters have had to be found for 100 or more ferrets because of the closing of shelters or breeders. It is a difficult time consuming process, and many of the ferrets remain for extended periods of time in overcrowded shelters because of "distribution problems". What happens when the numbers needing homes increase by a factor or 2 or 3, or even 10? The problem of unwanted ferrets may be small compared to dogs and cats, but it exists nevertheless. As members of the ferret community, we need to do our utmost to discourage careless breeding as well as educate potential owners. Every ferret deserves a good home. Linda Iroff Raisin Retreat Ferret Shelter Oberlin, Ohio http://www.oberlin.edu/~liroff/ncfs.html [Posted in FML issue 2573]